O QUE É NOTÍCIA

On a late‑winter afternoon in Monte Carlo, the General Manager of Hôtel Hermitage Monte‑Carlo, Guillaume Ranvier, welcomes us for an exclusive interview at the Limún Bar. During the conversation, he announces the first SBM Group project outside the Principality and shares details about renovations, gastronomy, and the latest developments at this true “hotel of connoisseurs.”At the helm of one of Monaco’s most emblematic hotels since January 2026, Guillaume Ranvier arrived at Hôtel Hermitage Monte‑Carlo with the mission of continuing an extensive renovation process while writing a new chapter without losing the century‑old essence of this storied property. At 44 years old, married with three children, he left Paris where he worked at the George V (Four Seasons) to take on the challenge of managing one of the most iconic properties of the Monte‑Carlo Société des Bains de Mer (SBM) group.

Hôtel Hermitage Monte‑Carlo is often referred to as the “Hôtel des connaisseurs.” What defines this spirit today, and how do you renovate without losing its essence?

The Hermitage has always been a hotel for those who appreciate detail, discretion, and l’art de vivre. Being a connoisseur is not just about having knowledge; it is about recognizing authenticity. Here, luxury is not ostentation. It is culture, history, art, and exceptionally attentive hospitality. The Hermitage has a renovation schedule that began in 2025 and is expected to be completed in 2027. We currently have 258 accommodations that are being gradually redesigned, featuring intelligent automation systems and Green Globe certification. Today, sustainability is an essential part of luxury. Renovating is not only about modernization, but about evolving responsibly. The secret lies in balance—and SBM values this greatly.

What lies ahead?

We have a major announcement. For the first time in its history, the SBM Group will have a property outside Monaco. In 2027, we will open a hotel in Courchevel, in the French Alps. This will be a new option for our clients. The idea is that they will be able to enjoy combined  or separate experiences in the Alps and here in the Principality. Whether on the same trip or on different journeys, they will have activities on land or at sea. We are eager to present this new chapter to the public. At Hermitage, we will soon inaugurate a new bar inspired by Gustave Eiffel, as a tribute to the Belle Époque. Another initiative is to expand our range of services and offer more exclusive experiences to our guests. As for the Thermes Marins Monte‑Carlo, located at the Hôtel de Paris and accessible to our guests, they will undergo a complete restoration. This space, also frequented by local residents, will receive exceptional modernization. Stay tuned.

How these new experiences will e handled?

First, it is important to show that we are a destination offering a wide variety of activities. Second, it is essential to maintain the highest quality of our products. Another key pillar is building sincere interaction with our guests an emotional connection and creating exceptional experiences for those seeking exclusivity and authenticity. In all of this, the human factor remains fundamental. Our guests value history, art, fine dining, well‑being, and, above all, discretion. They understand that true luxury is feeling at home in an extraordinary place. It is our responsibility to maintain this delicate balance between warmth, simplicity, and sensitivity.

To carry forward the Hermitage’s legacy while looking toward the future. My role is to respect this extraordinary identity, take care of our current guests, and at the same time prepare the hotel for future generations of travelers more aware, more demanding, and more connected to the meaning of experiences.

What is luxury to you?

If we ask thirty people what luxury is, we will get thirty different answers. To me, luxury is simplicity. It is for someone seeking more than comfort someone who values history, art, fine dining, well‑being, and, above all, discretion. Someone who understands that true luxury is feeling at home in an extraordinary place. A true connoisseur.

Journalists stayed at the Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo at the invitation of the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer  (SBM) group, represented in Brazil by Sahão Marketing & Consultoria.